Unsettling news indeed: The “well-being” of North Carolinians reportedly ranks 36th in the nation. Gallup’s composite index weighs 20 factors, such as stress, obesity, job satisfaction, nighttime safety, happiness…. Happiness? Tar Heels come up short in happiness? Why, it hasn’t been that long ago — the ’70s, actually — that John Shelton Reed was explaining […]

I noticed the following article in a clipping (from an issue of USA Today) posted at my local coffee shop: NASA launches search for ‘moon trees’ Of course, this led me to wonder where North Carolina’s “moon trees” are located. According to NASA’s Moon Tree web page, we have two known trees (both sycamores), one […]

— By golly, that is a harp seal! — R.I.P., Appalachian Cultural Museum. — “You simply take a piece of wood and cut out everything that doesn’t look like a duck.” — David Brinkley ate here. — If you run into Bigfoot, ask him if he’s seen an Eastern cougar.